Well servicing



Jan. 21, 1969 1', KQONCE 3,422,895

WELL SERVICING Filed Sept. 20, 1967 i? FLQWLINE INVENTOR. KENNETH T. KOONCE,

BY m I ATT EY..

United States Patent O T 3,422,895 WELL SERVICING Kenneth T. Koonce, Houston, Tex., assignor to Esso Production Research Company Filed Sept. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 669,204 US. Cl. 166-79 Int. Cl. E21b 33/03; E21b 41/00 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable or movable support means is provided with a valved manifold into which pump tools are insertable for pumping into a well conduit by connecting the manifold to the well and to pump and tank means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention It is known to introduce tools into a well and pump such tools around bends in the well conduits. It is also known to provide a so-called radius bend to accommodate such introduction of tools. Where such through flow line operations are employed, it is necessary to equip each well with manifolds, valves, and the like to permit such tools to be pumped into and out of the wells. Equipment of each well with all pertinent equipment such as valved manifolds, radius bends, pumps, tanks and the like is expensive and may be avoided in accordance with the present invention by providing portable equipment which may be readily connected to and disconnected from any of several wells for use as may be desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention may be briefly described and summarized as involving apparatus for servicing a well in which through flow line operations are performed. In the particular apparatus, a portable or movable support means is provided having a plurality of conduit means arranged or carried on it. The conduit means has one end which extends from the support means and may be provided with a downwardly extended radius bend adapted to be connected to a well conduit. The other end is provided with an openable closure means for inserting a well tool. A branched conduit means with valves in the branches is connected to the conduit means while the free end of the branches is connected to pump means and tank means which in turn are connected into the well pumping circuit for pumping a tool and the like into and out of a well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The present invention Will be further described by reference to the drawing in which FIGURE 1 is a showing of apparatus employed in the present invention illustrating how a well may be serviced; and

FIGURE 2 shows a wellhead positioned on the ocean floor with the support apparatus at a remote shore location.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing illustrating the best mode and embodiment, numeral 11 designates a well pipe such Patented Jan. 21, 1969 as that of a well which has been drilled on land, having extending upwardly through it well conduits 12 and 13. Well pipe 11 may be a surface casing, a conductor pipe to shield or protect flow lines from many wells such as a satellite underwater well completions, and the like. Well conduits 12 and 13 may be and preferably are interconnected adajcent their ends in the Well through an interconnecting conduit or they may be interconnected by terminating in a common conduit such as 11. Each of the conduits 12 and 13 is suitably provided with a valve means 14 and 15. Conduit 13 is suitably provided with a lateral conduit 16 which may connect to the circulatory system as will be described.

The apparatus of the present invention particularly includes a carriage or support means 17 which may suitably be provided with mobile means such as wheels 18 to allow the carriage 17 to be moved from place to place. However, the carriage 17 need not be provided with wheels for moving it but it may suitably be portable or movable by lifting devices and the like not shown. Carriage 17 may be arranged on rails for movement therealong as may be desired. The carriage 17 is provided with upstanding members 19 which suitably support a platform 20 on which is arranged a plurality of conduit means 21 and 22. Conduit means 21 and 22 may be constructed of rigid material such as steel and the like which is of sufficient strength to support its OWn weight or conduit means 21 and 22 may be constructed of flexible materials such as, but not limited to, high strength hose which is designed for working pressures of at least 5,000 pounds per square inch. Regardless of the materials of construction of conduit means 21 and 22, the conduit means 21 and 22 extend over the platform 20 to form radius bends 23 and 24 provided with flange means 25 and 26 for connection to mating flange means on well conduit means 13 and 12, respectively. It is within the purview and scope of the present invention to provide radiusbends 23 and 24 on the well conduits 12 and 13 rather than on conduit means 21 and 22 since the effect is the same. The conduit means 21 and 22 may be connected to and disconnected from well conduit means 12 and 13 as may be desired. The free ends 29 and 30 of conduit means 21 and 22 are provided with openable closure means 31 and 32 which may be a threaded cap as may be desired but which preferably may be a suitable so-called lubrication means comprised otvalves, glands and the like which will allow tools to be inserted into the conduitmeans 21 and 22 and will withstand pressure. Connected to conduit means 21 and 22 is the branched conduit means 33 provided with branches 34 and 35; branch 34 containing valve 36 being connected to conduit means 21 and branch 35 containing valve 37 being connected to conduit means 22. Branched conduit means 38 is connected to conduit means 21 and 22 through branches 39 and 40 containing valves 41 and 42. The free end 43 of branched conduit means 38 is connected by a flexible or rigid connecting means 44 to tank means 48 through pump 45 and line 49 while the free end 46 of branched conduit means 33 is connected by a flexible or rigid connecting means 47 to the top of tank means 48.

It is to be noted that the branched conduit means 33 is provided with a controllable choke valve 50 for regulating flow rate and pressure.

It is also contemplated thta the lateral conduit 16 may be connected into the branched conduit 33 by a suitable connection not shownor into the connection 47 to provide a circulatory system. In this event, it would be necessary to close off the branched conduit means 33 to allow circulation to proceed as described. Otherwise, the lateral conduit 16 would be closed by suitable means not shown.

In using the apparatus of the present invention, connections are made as shown to the conduits 12 and 13 and to the pump 45 and tank 48. One of the openable closure means such as 31 is opened and a pump tool such as, but not limited to, a perforator gun not shown equipped with means such as pistons for pumping same through the conduit means 21 and into well conduit 13 is inserted in conduit means 21 and the means 31 is closed. Valve 42 in branch 40 is closed and valve 41 in branch 39 is opened. If lateral line 16 is not connected into the system,

' it is closed off. Valve 36 in branch 34 is closed and valve 37 in branch 35 is opened. Pump 45 is started and fluid pressure is exerted against the pistons of the pump tool causing it to travel through conduit means 21 and into well conduit 13, fluid flowing back through well conduit 12, conduit means 22, branch 35 and through connection means 47 to tank 48 from which pump 45 takes suction by connection means 49.

When the pump tool is to be retrieved and returned to the surface, the flow may be reversed by suitable adjustment of valves in the apparatus of the present invention as will be apparent.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, 11a represents a wellhead which may be positioned on the ocean floor at a marine location. The carriage 17 is located remotely at a shore location. Well 11a is provided with a radius bend 12a which connects the well pipe 12 to the flow line communicating with on shore facilities. In this instance, the pipe 21 of carriage 17 connects to the flow line by means of a double bend of pipe 23a. Although not shown, the well 11a may include two well pipes as in FIG. 1.

By virtue of providing a device as described with respect to the drawings, it is possible to service and maintain underwater and other wells by using the so-called through flow line tools. Through flow line tools are tools which are pumped into and out of a well and must be able to traverse bends and curves in the well conduit. These tools have been developed to perform a variety of work-over and servicing tasks such as, but not lirnted to, squeeze cementing, acidizing, plasticizing, sand consolidation, perforating, removal of paraflin, and the like. Heretofore, it has been necessary, to circulate these tools, to use on each well a manifold with a number of valves and a radius bend for circulation of tools. Thus, each well had to be provided with the valves, the manifold, the pumps and the tanks and the like. In accordance with the present invention, however, it is now possible to insert these tools into a portable or movable device which may be disconnectable from the well and the pump and tank means and moved to another well which needs servicing. Thus, a considerable economic advantage is obtained. It is also unobvious to maintain and service a well with portable equipment of the nature described wherein the equipment is movable from well to well.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, and the best mode and embodiments contemplated set forth what I wish to claim as new and useful and secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for servicing a well having a plurality of well conduits extending into said well which comprises in combination:

support means;

a plurality of conduit means arranged on said support means;

one end of each of said conduit means extending from said support means and adapted to be connected to said well conduits extending into said well;

the other end of each said conduit means being provided with openable closure means for inserting a well tool into said conduit means;

a radius bend in at least one of each of said well conduits and conduit means;

first and second branched conduit means having branches connected to said conduit means and said branched conduit means having a free end; and

valve means in each of said branches for opening and closing the branches of said branched conduit means; the free end of said branched conduit means being adapted to be connected to pump means and being adapted to be connected to tank means connected to said pump means; whereby a tool inserted into said conduit means is pumpable through said conduit means and said conduits extending into said well. 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the support means is a wheeled carriage. 3. Apparatus in accordance with support means is portable.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which a radius bend is provided in each of said conduit-means. 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which a radius bend is provided in each of said well conduits.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which at least one of said branched conduit means is provided with a valve means adjacent the free end and past the branches thereof.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the conduit means is flexible.

8. Well apparatus which comprises: a plurality of well conduits extending into a well; portable support means; a plurality of conduit means arranged on said support means; one end of each of said conduit means extending from said support means and releasably connected to one of said conduits extending into said well; the other end of each of said conduit'means being provided with openable closure means for inserting a well tool into at least one of said conduit means; a radius bend in at least one of each of said well conduits and conduit means; at least first and second branched conduit means each having branches connected to said conduit means and each branched conduit having a free end; pump means; tank means; the free end of the first of said branched conduit means being releasably connected to said pump means and the free end of the second of said branched conduit means being releasably connected to said tank means; and 7 means connecting said pump and tank means; whereby said support means, said conduit means, and said branched conduit means may be disconnected from said conduit means extending into said well and from said pump and tank means and connected to similar means on another well. 9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 in which the claim 1 in which the conduit means are flexible.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 in which the radius bends are downwardly extending from said support means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,022,822 2/ 1962 McStrauick et al. l66.5 3,219,118 11/1965 Lewis 166-75 X 3,239,004 3/ 1966 Coberly 166-75 X 3,346,045 10/1967 Knapp et al 16 6.5 X 3,361,206 1/1968 Raulins 166-.5 X 3,363,683 1/1968 Corley et a1 166.5 3,381,753 5/1968 Fredd 166224X DAVID H. BROWN, Primary Examiner.

U.S. ci. X.R. 16685 Disclaimer and Dedication 3,422,895.If 6717116), T. Koonce, Houston, Tex. WELL SERVICING. Patent dated J an. 21, 1969. Disclaimer and dedication filed Apr. 20, 1970, by the assignee, Essa Production Research Company.

Hereby disclaims and dedicates to the Public the entire term of said patent.

[Ofiicial Gazette J a'nuary 26, 1.971] 

